Mi Hamba Blog

When we say our life isn’t working, what we’re really saying is that there’s something in our lives that isn’t working - another direction we’re drawn to, or elements that hold us back from living our purpose. If you’re feeling this way, question what doesn’t make sense in your life.

In order to make the changes that will make a meaningful difference, we must first understand where we are right now, and how we got there. It’s almost like taking a spectator approach to the movie of our lives, and reporting back on it.

- What’s your life like right now - the good and the bad?
- How does it make you feel?
- What circumstances and choices brought you there?
- How many of the circumstances in your life keep you from feeling good?

This awareness process is so very important in identifying what’s not working for us, what doesn’t make sense. So often we don’t even recognize the subtle things, the habits, the routines that are keeping us stuck and make us feel like life isn’t what it’s supposed to be. By consciously putting our attention on it, in a non-judgmental way, we can begin to change the things, circumstances and habits that block us from living a happy, fulfilling and meaningful life. Isn’t that what we all ultimately want?!

Now that you know what’s been happening, promise yourself that you’ll take some time to listen to what your inner voice is trying to tell you. Journal about your life this next week and identify those things that you can change. You’ll be amazed at what you learn about yourself and how easily what doesn’t make sense, can change.

What can you do to begin to experience more joy in your life right now? To get immediate relief and escape from stresses in your life…to have FUN! I call them the “50 Ways to a Happier You”

Only you know what makes you happy. That unique combination of seeing, experiencing and doing that makes you forget everything else and just be in the moment. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Likely, you’ve stopped seeing, experiencing and doing those things that bring you joy. Let’s bring them back now.

Make a list of 50 things that make you happy. They don’t need to cost money, or involve others, or mean that you have to travel to get there - although they can. What’s important is that you list the things, even the seemingly small things, that bring you joy.

Here’s a short list from others who have done this exercise:

- Reading
- Enjoying my coffee on the patio
- Long drives on winding roads
- Fishing with the kids
- Taking the dogs for a walk
- Listening to music
- Bubble baths
- Travelling
- Garage sale shopping
- Painting

If you can’t think of 50 things right now, that’s ok. Keep the list with you and add to it when you recall another thing that brings you joy. In the meantime, do something from the list every day, or at the very least, several times a week.

The more you put yourself in situations that bring you joy, the less that stress takes over. The less stress and more joy, the easier you’ll be able to get in touch with what’s most important to you.

Is true happiness as imaginary to you as Tinkerbell and fairy dust? It doesn’t have to be. Happiness is our natural state of being … one that may have eluded you until now, but no longer.

Who Are You

Do you feel like you don’t know who you are anymore? If so, that could be the reason you’re not experiencing the kind of happiness we’re talking about here. But where do you start?

Life Purpose: We all have one. It’s what defines our role in life and our way of contributing - another factor in happiness. It’s a combination of our passions, talents and character; the calling of our soul. Living life on purpose means we’re in harmony with what’s most important to us. If you don’t know what yours is, begin to explore what matters most to you and what you feel happiest doing. Take time alone to reflect and journal about your insights.

Ok, you get it. But you’re not in touch with your life purpose … yet. For some, uncovering life purpose comes quick and easy…for others, it takes some time. Either way, patience and trust is key in this process. As you gain clarity, life takes on new meaning.

Living a life on purpose not only brings you back to happiness, but it’s the responsible way to live - by example.

Happiness.  What is it? With well being and contentment to be glad, cheerful, lighthearted, joyful, joyous, satisfied.

No matter how you define it, it’s a state of “being” - a way to “feel”.  It’s when those pleasure endorphins race through our bodies creating that euphoric state - our natural state of being.  Why then, do so many of us race through life in pursuit of it…forever searching?

The Eternal Search

Why do so many of us keep searching for happiness and never seem to find it?  Sure, there are those fleeting moments or events that bring us joy, but I’m talking about real happiness; the kind that comes from deep inside - who we are, not what we experience.  That kind of ultimate happiness is right in front of us, waiting to be embraced again.  But alas, we’re blind to it.

No more!  That’s about to change…

Youthful Joy

Do you remember when you were a child, how happiness came so easy, so effortlessly?  In fact, you probably didn’t give the subject of “happiness” much thought at all.  You just were happy.  That kind of youthful joy is what I suggest is our natural state.  It comes from inside us, not any external event or location.  So what happened?

As we grew up, we had “responsibilities” thrust on us and were taught to be “practical” and “sensible” and “cautious” - all those things that old, outdated ways of living will tell us we need to be.  The problem is, we lose who we are in the process - the essence of where our joy comes from.  When we’re slotted into a life that doesn’t fit with who we are, and what we’re meant to be doing in this life (our purpose), happiness seeps out of us like the air out of the tire with a small nail in it.  It’s a slow leak of our life force, justified with the  “that’s just the way life is” attitude.

It’s not - life is meant to be joyous, fun and fulfilling.

Take the time to reconnect with what’s most important to you in life.  Do the thing you enjoy doing.  Experience life with youthful and inquisitive eyes.  Surround yourself with the people and experiences that bring out the best in you.  Bring back that youthful joy of life!

We thought we’d leave you with something to smile about today.  Something to kick off your weekend, bringing some more happiness and joy into your life.

This video was taken at Central Station in Antwerp, Belgium.  The Sound of Music.  Enjoy!

“Every problem is a question trying to ask itself…
Every question is an answer trying to reveal itself…
Every answer is an action or way of life trying to show up.”

 

~ Michael Beckwith, Spiritual Leader - Agape Live

Face the adversity in your life head-on and ask better questions:

 - What does this adversity mean; what’s the lesson here?
 - What course correction do I need to make?
 - What habits to I need to change or replace?
 - What gift am I ignoring that is trying to express itself?

Or maybe the adversity is really just a signal to do something that you’ve always wanted to do, but never gave yourself permission to do.  The world is full of thousands of people that have re-defined their lives while in the midst of personal turmoil - death of a loved one, divorce, financial ruin - the result?  Happier, more fulfilling and rewarding lives!

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going

You’re a person of power - or rather empowerment.  Just like your physical muscles, your empowerment muscle needs exercise. You do this by acting on inspired thought.  Remember those great questions you asked?  By focusing on the right questions instead of trying to “fix” the problem, insight will now come to you in a way that you’ll understand.  Acting on that inspired thought not only builds your empowerment muscle, but it will amaze you how life answers come back to you in a miraculous way.

Becoming

Life is about becoming.  Becoming the person you were meant to be, living the life you were meant to live.   Adversity comes into our lives to grow us to the next level - to become more of ourselves. 

When you approach adversity, not as obstacles in your path but as stepping stones, you open yourself up to your own personal growth and the treasure it holds.  The adversity in your life can give birth to a whole new way of living.  One that’s based in abundance principles instead of scarcity thinking!

Stay awake, stay aware.  Never let crisis go to waste.

Everywhere we go, we hear people say they’re looking for life-balance.  We spend enormous amounts of time and money in search of solutions to our hectic lives.  Why is it that balance in family, work and relationships seems so elusive?  We may be searching for something that just isn’t there…

Life-balance is a myth!  Yes, you heard right.  There’s no such thing as life balance - at least not on a permanent basis.  Let me explain…

The Myth

To say that you have life-balance implies that all areas of your life are in balance - physical, career, financial, relationships, spiritual - you get the picture.   It’s impossible to have balance in ALL areas of your life at the same time - physically and emotionally impossible. 

Life balance further implies that all areas of your life are created equal.  That’s just not true.  At different times in your life, different areas will demand more of your attention.  For instance, when you’re in your early twenties your focus may be more on career, while later in life it may be on family - your growing family.

Life Balance - What it Really Is

What we’re really searching for is a place where the things that are most important to us can fit into our daily lives, while giving us a sense of peace, connectedness, and confidence in our achievements.  We’ve overcomplicated life in the twenty-first century, losing touch with who we are, what we really want, and what is possible for us.  Finding balance is as individual and unique as each of us - because we’re each different, have different needs and wants, and are on different life paths.

Contrary to popular belief, we CAN have it all - it just takes focus and an eye to personal growth.

Have you been thinking “My life is a mess!”?  If so, you’re probably so overwhelmed with all the garbage that’s entering your life, wondering when it’s going to stop, that you can’t see any way out. 

Take comfort…the path to a happier, more balanced, less stressful, abundant life is yours for the taking.  You just need to be aware of what to do.

What’s Really Going On?

Understanding what adversity means actually helps you deal with it better.  Have you ever heard people say, “If I just knew what was going to happen (keeping your job vs. being let go), I could deal with it much better.”  You may not know the outcome of a situation, and not knowing is certainly the cause of much unnecessary stress, but understanding the reason or cause of a situation WILL open the door to your answers. 

Adversity comes into our lives as feedback that you’re on the wrong path - your decisions, your choices, your actions, your behaviors.

Knowing this, it’s then fairly simple to take a different approach…what’s the message here? Take some time to think about the adversity in your life right now.  What message is it bringing you?  Is there some different action you could take?

Next time, we’ll explore how you can use this knowledge to your advantage.

You can’t turn on the TV these days without seeing and hearing about how bad the economy is.  Believe it or not, this actually perpetuates the cycle - stress, fear and anxiety over money creates lack of money - more stress, fear and anxiety over money creates more - and so on, and so on.  Will you ever break the cycle and create wealth and abundance in your life? 

Yes…

Firstly, turn off the TV.  You’re not going to miss anything because someone will tell you about the really important news.  You know this is true.

Secondly, watch what Byron Katie has to say on the subject…

If you’re unfamiliar with Byron Katie’s work, she pioneered “The Work”, described in her landmark book, 

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

The #1 thing we all want is to be happy.  So why aren’t we?  Invest 3 minutes right now to learn the answer to that question.

Marci’s New York Time’s bestseller, Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out has just been released in paperback - just yesterday!  If you don’t own your own copy, now is the right time.

Never in our history have so many of us needed to hear this message.

Your life is waiting!